The Alachua County Commission and the Gainesville City Commission are considering a countywide referendum to raise sales tax revenue for transportation projects. Road repair is an easy political win, but bus rapid transit...not so much.
Morgan Watkins shares news of a “push to get a transportation sales tax referendum on this fall's ballot” in Alachua County, Florida, which includes the city of Gainesville.
“[County Commissioners] were all in agreement that Alachua County government's share of the money will mostly be used to finance road repair projects, which will help reduce its $550 million backlog in such repairs,” writes Watkins.
However, “The possibility that the city of Gainesville will include a bus rapid transit system in its project list for the referendum proved divisive for the board.”
The County Commission’s hesitance results from a recent report that questioned a proposed BRT’s viability.
The City Commission also later delayed its decision on a proposed project list, according to a separate report from Christopher Curry.
Read the full story: Bus rapid transit stalls county's move on tax referendum
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